We saw three trends, among many, changing the restaurant industry this last year, and they can all be addressed with online ordering from NetWaiter.

Have It Your Way — This used to be the marketing line of Burger King, but now everyone is on the customizable bandwagon. Extra meat, extra cheese, replace the bun with a lettuce wrap. NetWaiter’s online ordering system makes it easy to allow for this type of customization. Even when a customer has pre-paid for their online order and throws in a special request that should cost extra, NetWaiter has enabled a way for you to politely go back and charge them the additional fee (see our March newsletter, out in a few weeks).

Unconventional Hours — A substantial number of people saw their traditional jobs go away for good over the last decade. Some estimates have as much as one-third of the workforce in “freelance” jobs. Others are working two jobs to replace the one that went away, or commuting a considerable distance. The 9-to-5 workday has been replaced by “whenever and wherever.” Online ordering accommodates these new and unconventional work hours by making your menu always available and easily accessible.

More Competition from Unconventional Places — Some hotels are pondering takeout parking spots for their in-house restaurant as they struggle for new ways to bring in more revenue. Supermarkets and even big-box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target are offering pre-packaged meals for shoppers that are on-the-go. To compete with these places, you need to be more convenient and innovative than they are, and never let your customers forget it.